Officials in Lewiston and Auburn trying to determine if a Christmas display created by a business is illegal advertising.Republic Jewelry owner Dan Cunliffe Jr. said he has received thousands of compliments on his holiday decorations.The owner of the jewelry store has several Christmas displays placed throughout Lewiston and Auburn. The display spells out the word "Republic" in white lights."We love displaying Christmas lights and thought it would be a great way to greet people on their way home and say ‘Merry Christmas from Republic,’" Cunliffe said.However, the displays might be violating city ordinances."This may be a form of advertising for a business that isn't located on that site, and that is clearly not allowed by our ordinance," Lewiston City Planner David Hediger said.Lewiston and Auburn officials said the displays might be the jurisdiction of the state, and they contacted the Maine Department of Transportation."Off premises advertising falls under state law. We are taking our lead from the state," Hediger said.Cunliffe said his Christmas displays are just that – Christmas displays – and not advertising."They said, ‘You can say Merry Christmas, but you can't say your name.’ I said, ‘Well it's just kind of … to set up a display and say Merry Christmas and not say who it's from – that's like sending a Christmas card to somebody and not signing it, you know,’" Cunliffe said.City officials will determine if he needs a permit for the holiday signs."I mean we don't see off-premises advertising in Maine for a reason where there are billboards or other signs advertising a business down the street or in another community. This is an example, even though it's decorative and it's not offensive to anybody, one can argue it is off-premise advertising and it shouldn't be allowed," Hediger said.“We're trying to work it out but if there's an issue, I definitely don't want to break any laws. We'll take them down, try to comply," Cunliffe said.

AUBURN, Maine —

Officials in Lewiston and Auburn trying to determine if a Christmas display created by a business is illegal advertising.

Republic Jewelry owner Dan Cunliffe Jr. said he has received thousands of compliments on his holiday decorations.

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The owner of the jewelry store has several Christmas displays placed throughout Lewiston and Auburn. The display spells out the word "Republic" in white lights.

"We love displaying Christmas lights and thought it would be a great way to greet people on their way home and say ‘Merry Christmas from Republic,’" Cunliffe said.

However, the displays might be violating city ordinances.

"This may be a form of advertising for a business that isn't located on that site, and that is clearly not allowed by our ordinance," Lewiston City Planner David Hediger said.

Lewiston and Auburn officials said the displays might be the jurisdiction of the state, and they contacted the Maine Department of Transportation.

"Off premises advertising falls under state law. We are taking our lead from the state," Hediger said.

Cunliffe said his Christmas displays are just that – Christmas displays – and not advertising.

"They said, ‘You can say Merry Christmas, but you can't say your name.’ I said, ‘Well it's just kind of … to set up a display and say Merry Christmas and not say who it's from – that's like sending a Christmas card to somebody and not signing it, you know,’" Cunliffe said.

City officials will determine if he needs a permit for the holiday signs.

"I mean we don't see off-premises advertising in Maine for a reason where there are billboards or other signs advertising a business down the street or in another community. This is an example, even though it's decorative and it's not offensive to anybody, one can argue it is off-premise advertising and it shouldn't be allowed," Hediger said.

“We're trying to work it out but if there's an issue, I definitely don't want to break any laws. We'll take them down, try to comply," Cunliffe said.